STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - The Boilermaker softball team split its Wednesday doubleheader against Penn State, falling 8-4 in the first game, before rebounding with a 12-3 win in Game 2.

Penn State mounted a late rally in the opener, while the Boilermakers supplied an offense barrage late in Game 2.

The Boilermakers return to action at 4 p.m. Friday to kick off a weekend home series against Nebraska. Friday has been designated as a Blackout Game and fans are encouraged to wear black to the event.

Saturday is Alumni Day/Social Media Day, where the Boilermakers will honor all former players in attendance as the program celebrates its 20th season. Fans are encouraged to interact with Purdue Softball on Facebook and twitter throughout the week and game using the hashtag #PurdueNUSB. A Throwback Thursday (#tbt)social media celebration will feature photos from throughout the program's history.

All Purdue faculty and staff and their families are invited to attend Sunday's Faculty/Staff Appreciation Day game for just $1 admission.

Penn State 8, Purdue 4 (Game 1)
Penn State broke open a 4-4 tie game with a four-run fifth inning and Purdue could not mount a comeback in an 8-4 loss.

The Nittany Lions put up eight runs on 11 hits and an error, while the Boilermakers managed four runs on seven hits and three errors. Junior Danielle Fletcher led the Purdue bats with a 2-for-3 effort, including a double and a home run.

Macy Jones (10-11) struck out four in the win for Penn State, while freshman Lilly Fecho (8-13) struck out four in the loss for the Boilermakers. Sophomore Alex Whittemore threw an inning and a third of relief.

Junior Lindsey Rains tallied the first hit of the game with a one-out bunt single in the first. She stole second to move into scoring position, but was left stranded by a pair of strikeouts.

The Boilermakers put two runners on in the second, but again came up empty on the scoreboard. Senior Maia Monchek sent a two-out single into the right center gap and was joined on base by freshman Paris Andrew, who was hit by a pitch. A fly ball kept Purdue off the scoreboard.

Purdue put up three runs on four hits and two errors in the third. Sophomore Ashley Burkhardt started the inning with a single and went to second on a throwing error. Junior Andie Varsho reached on an error and stole second to put two in scoring position for junior Danielle Fletcher, who plated both by bouncing a double off the center field wall. A single by senior Erika Petruzzi put runners at the corners for junior Tori Chiodo, who made it 3-0 with a single up the middle. A ground ball to the shortstop ended the rally.

Penn State answered with three runs on a trio of hits and a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning. A fielder's choice play and a double put two in scoring position to set up the sacrifice fly. Back-to-back doubles by Kailyn Johnson and Reina Furuya tied the game at 3-3 bringing Whittemore into the game to pitch. A walk and single filled the bases, but a fly ball prevented further damage.

The Nittany Lions capitalized on a Purdue miscue in the fourth inning to take a 4-3 lead. A two-base throwing error gave PSU a runner on second. A single through the right side brought her home.

Fletcher knotted the score in the fifth, sending a home run up the right field line, just inside the foul pole. The long ball was her sixth of the season and the 19th of her career, tying for fifth on the Purdue career listing.

PSU took the lead with four runs on five hits in the fifth. The Nittany Lions paired two doubles and three singles for the scores, but stranded two runners as Fecho struck out three in a row to end the stanza.

The Boilermakers went down in order in the sixth and seventh.

Purdue 12, Penn State 3 (Game 2)
Penn State scored first, but the Boilermakers mounted an offense barrage to the tune of 12 runs on nine hits in a 12-3 win in Game 2 of the doubleheader.

Junior Andie Varsho, senior Maia Monchek and freshman Paris Andrew added two hits apiece to lead the Boiler bats, while sophomore Lexy Moore (8-9) got it done in the circle, striking out four and giving up just one earned run in the complete-game victory. Macy Jones (10-12) took the loss as neither she nor reliever Marissa Diescher could hold off the Purdue bats.

Cassidy Bell put Penn State on the scoreboard with a solo home run to lead off the home half of the first.

Junior Tori Chiodo rifled a single up the right field line in the second inning, but the Boilermakers could not bring her home.

Purdue took the lead in the third inning, scoring a pair of runs on three hits. Junior Lauren Grant started the rally with a single through the right side. Junior Lindsey Rains followed with a one-out single up the middle. A passed ball moved both into scoring position for Varsho, who brought both in with a single up the middle.

The Boilermakers tacked on two more run on two hits in the fifth. Andrew started the stanza with a bunt single. She went to third on a sacrifice and wild pitch before Rains joined her with a two-out walk. Varsho again came through on the RBI opportunity, scoring both with a double to left center, and forcing a pitching change.

Penn State got two runs back in the bottom of the fifth with help from two Purdue miscues. A single and an error put runners at the corners, setting up a double steal for a score. A fielding error allowed the runner from second to score on a ground out.

Purdue went up 6-3 with a pair of runs on a hit in the sixth. Chiodo drew a four-pitch walk to start the stanza and went to third on a passed ball and a bunt single by Monchek. Pinch runner Sydney Pencek stole second to put two in scoring position. Andrew picked up an RBI with a grounder to first base and Grant drove in another with a ground ball to third.

The Boilermakers capped the game, plating six runs on two hits in the seventh inning. Purdue led off the inning with a trio of walks. After a fielder's choice play at the plate, Chiodo walked in a run to start the scoring. Monchek sent a single into left field for another score. Andrew added two more with a double into the left center gap. A wild pitch brought Monchek home and put Andrew on third for Grant, who finished off the 12-3 win with an RBI grounder to the shortstop.
The Nittany Lions put a runner on third after a double in the bottom of the seventh, but the Purdue defense forced two fly balls to seal the win.